Clamp for curtain stretchers



l 1 l l |01 lo I8 lo /NvEHToR uw H. 13m

Q amfao Tg4-.

AT1-OR Nays o 0 o o CLAMP FOR CURTAIN STRETCHERS Sept. 7, 1948.

la I3 Patented Sept. 7, A1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE CLAMP FOR CURTAIN STRETCHERS Werner H. Bothe, Kenosha, Wis., assigner to Worldsbest Industries, Inc., Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 4, 1947, Serial No. 772,176

One object of the invention is to provide a i-ltting of simple construction for clamping angularly disposed frame members of the stretcher together which provides a large bearing contact between the clamping member and the bar it engages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamping device of the type above described in which the metal clamping head or jaw has a selfcompensating or leveling action relative to its anchorage so that it will readily accommodate any irregularities in the surface of the bar it engages.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a curtain stretcher, Darts of which are equipped with a. tting embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation view of the tting;

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 21, with parts broken away, showing the self-compensating action of the fitting embodying the invention,

Curtain stretchers embody top and bottom bars 5, side or end 6, a vertical center bar 1, and a vertical adjustably mounted bar 8 secured togetherby various ttings to form a stretching rame, the top and bottom bars, one of the end bars, and the bar 8 usually being provided with pins 9 on which portions of the damp curtains or other fabrics are impaled to stretch the fabric and hold it in this condition until dried.

The present invention is directed to a iitting which clamps the upper end of bar 8 with the top bar and which clamps the ends of the bottom bar to the end bars 6.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, the new f1tting includes a base or anchoring member I secured by rivets I I to one of the frame bars, such as to the upper end of the bar 8 or the ends of the bottom bar 5, said member having an angled end I2 between which and the end of the carrying bar 8 or 5 another frame bar such as the top bar 4i Claims. (Cl. 287-54) Cir 5 or either side bar 1 is slidably mounted in right angled relation, and so that one side of said last named bar abuts the end of the 'other frame bar. To secure these bars in abutting clamped relation, a clamping bolt I3 of the carriage type having squared portion I4 adjacent its head is loosely mounted in a square hole I 5 in the angled end I2,

so that it cannot rotate relative thereto, and its threaded shank I-6 carries a clamping nut I'I such as a wing nut. Loosely mounted on the shank of said bolt I 3 so that it may swivel or cant relative thereto is a U-shaped clamping head or jaw member I8 having a hole I 9 in its transverse portion through which said bolt passes loosely and having its legs provided with angled feet 20 to engage the bar t-o be clamped over a considerable area as compared to the usual C-type clamps that have been heretofore used. A spring 2| interposed between the angled end I2 and the head I8 holds the bolt I3 in assembled relation with its anchoring member and the head I8 against the adjusting screw.

With this -construction when the two bars to be clamped are assembled together in right angled relationship and the wing nut I 1 is turned to move the head I8 inwardly relative to the shank I3 and the bar such as the bar 5 or bars 1, the head I8 ls brought into clamping engagement with said bar and clamps the same between it and the end of the other bar at spaced points and over a relatively large clamping area, and even if the side of the bar with which the head engages be nicked, d-ented, or uneven as indicated at 22 in Fig. 4, the clamp will still engage the bar with both of its feet 20 since the loose connection of said head with the bolt permits said head to cant or tip relative to the shank of the bolt and also the loose connection of the bolt at I4 with the part I2 permits the bolt to tip or cant slightly.

I desire it to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a curtain stretcher having frame bars extending at angles to each other, one of said bars abutting `an end of the other bar, a fitting for securing said bars in abutting clamped relation comprising a member anchored to one of said bars and having an end in spaced relation thereto, a threaded clamping bolt carried by said end of said member, a clamping head loosely mounted on the shank of said bolt, and engageable at spaced points with the other bar, and aV clamping nut mounted on said bolt and engagehead loosely mounted on the shank of said bolt and engageable at spaced pointswith the other bar, a clamping nut mounted on said bolt and engagcable with said head for moving the'same to a clamping position, and a spring interposedl between said end and said head to maintain contact of said head with said nut and hold said bolt in assembled relation with said end.

3. In a curtain stretcher having frame bars extending at angles to each other, one of said bars abutting an end of the other bar, atting forsecuring said bars in abutting clamped relation comprising a member anchored to one of 4 said bars, a threaded clamping bolt carried by said member in spaced relation to its carrying bar, a U-shaped clamping member having angled feet engageable at spaced points with said abutting bar, and a clamping nut mounted on said bolt and engageable with said clamping member for moving the same to a clamping position.

4. In a curtain stretcher having frame bars extending at angles to each other, one of said bars abutting an end of the other bar, a fitting 'for securing said bars in abutting clamped relation lcomprising a member anchored to one of said bars, a threaded clamping bolt having a non-rotatable mounting in said member in spaced Yrelation to its carrying bar, a U-shaped clamping member slidably mounted on said bolt and engageable with the abutting bar, a clamping nut mounted on said bolt and engageable with said clamping member for moving the same to a clamping position, and a spring engageable with said clamping member to hold the same against said nut.

WERNER H. BOTHE.. 

